羊年的一個大轉變 – changes in the year of sheep

In few weeks we start the year of sheep. My year, because why conceive me in the time that would give some cool sign. Well, at least I’m not a monkey like Momzilla. Coincidence? I-THINK-NOT.And since it’s my year it would be great to do something with my life. I know what some of the people coming to my blog might think ‘Do you want to be more Asian, that’s why you chose your husband’s culture over yours?’ or ‘Why start so late?’ – I can bet there will be at least one person with that though. I can assure you it has nothing to do with culture. Or maybe a bit – the reason I never do my ‘Western New Year’s resolutions’ is really stupid. New Year happens too soon after Christmas and the amount of food my parents prepare is huge, I’m still eating it two, three weeks later. My strong will is as strong as Sing when you ask him to do the laundry – suddenly his back aches, he starts to moan and he cannot move the dirty laundry to the machine.

As a sheep I have huge hope for this upcoming Lunar Year to be truly mine – past two years in America were really rough to me, mainly because of my visa limitations that in the end made me feel like losing little part of me. It was hard to ‘go back public’, I had no idea what to talk about. I know Biscuit is cute but not everyone wants to hear about her (just joking, I know you would love my Biscuit stories).
There are things I like in America, there are also things I dislike in it, I guess ‘American Dream’ was not mine to be. I was little bit of third culture wife – somewhere between my own culture, my husband’s culture and local culture, but I couldn’t really fit into the last one. But now it all changes because we are moving to IRELAND on March 2nd!

It’s not Hong Kong but Sing tried to cheer me up by saying ‘At least when you get a driving license you can prepare yourself for driving in Hong Kong’. With such a good public transportation in back there I don’t need a driving license, unless I become a bus driver. Very bad one. So if you ever see a ‘ghost sister driver’ in any of HK buses I would suggest you to take your Octopus away and just wait for the next one. My driving is like real-life GTA.

Anyway, that’s the main reason the blog is dead, my social medias are dead too, even I’m almost dead. Since Sing is staying in Ireland until February 11th I’m dealing with literally everything. Alone. Without a car. Good I have a friend who helped me with some boxes from home depot, but last two weeks is just constant packing, selling things on Craigslist – I never met so many people in such a short period of time, I’m dealing with boxes to be shipped in a container and the most important thing: arranging trip for Biscuit. Seriously, it’s so complicated and expensive that I actually could buy 53.(3) Biscuits instead.

I have so many post remaining from our Hong Kong trip and so many connected with moving abroad/bringing your non-EU partner to Europe etc. that I will write in the future. I think it might be really helpful since AMWF community is growing so fast! We’re also looking for a flat to rent, we need to sell our car and buy a new one back and million other things.

I’m so tired, bit guilty for not committing to this blog as much as I wish I had, but I’m also extremely excited. New journey await us in the year of sheep. Non of us really lived in Ireland so it’s fresh start for both of us, but this time it’s me who will have the advantage. In San Francisco and Bay Area Cantonese-speaking community is much bigger than Polish one. In Ireland we go to Limerick – city with LOOOOOTS of my folks and very little his. There’s only one Asian store in Limerick so when he went shopping there for the first time everyone was staring at him because they didn’t recognize him as ‘their own’. And did I tell you I will get a job? Sing’s company needs EU workers and guess who got asked? It’s still not confirmed but let’s hope it will be a good way to start our life there.

I’m slowly closing the American chapter in our lives, for Sing it’s much much longer one – I packed his memories in paper boxes, some of them got sold (‘I have that TV longer than I know you’) and everything is happening so fast, but I finally feel alive. I also hope our experience will come other couples who make decisions, want to move, maybe take their pets. It will also be a little different because I think there will be more posts about our life as AMWF couple in a very non-Asian community, more ‘guide posts’ on how EU citizen can help their NON-EU spouse and our Polish-Hong Kong family, since I will be only 3h by RyanAir from my parents – there will be much more interaction than when we’re so far away etc. I hope even thought our environment changes you will still be with us and enjoy the upcoming posts!

Any advice on moving abroad you want to share? Or maybe do you wish I covered any specific topic? I know I still miss all the food posts from Hong Kong, but I can write your ideas down and use them in future! And thank you for being with me for past HALF MILLION VIEWS!

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99 thoughts on “羊年的一個大轉變 – changes in the year of sheep”

Congratulations!!! I figured it was Ireland because Sing has been there for quite a long time now. You will love it and I’m so happy you’ll be so close to your parents and can work. All the best with your move. If I still lived in SF, I would be there to help you. I look forward to reading about your new life in Ireland!

thank you so much! you’re so smart! SIng is there for almost 3 months already but before they didn’t want to ask him to move because of me but when they figured out I’m actually an EU citizen they asked him how he feels about moving there for good, we had a long discussion and for past almost two weeks I’m dealing with all the stuff. We just booked the tickets so there’s no return now 🙂
that’s why I wanted to send out some SF cards as the last thing in my American chapter 🙂

Oh, if I was really smart I would have figured it out much earlier. My mom has been to Ireland a bunch of times just to travel around. She says it’s beautiful and the people are super nice. It will be wonderful!

thank you so much! I hope I can keep it up the same way 🙂 but I’m so happy to finally have some family interaction and I will be able to show interracial relationship between Polish parents and Asian spouse, not only from Momzilla and the rest of Sing’s family 🙂 it will be fun haha 🙂

thank you! packing is not so bad, but taking Biscuit is a really difficult thing to do especially since Ireland is so strict about the pet rules like cargo transport only, this and that paper, those airlines only, but screw SFO airport because screw you Lina etc. T_T

Which one? We’ve never been for sushi in Newark but we’re still chasing after the best ones we can find in the bay! We’re going on our honeymoon for the first half of February but if you guys have a little time during all that busy time, we’d love to meet up!

Awesome!!!!! That sounds so exciting! New adventures, work, touring and all sorts! I’m a little bit enviousーI love Japan, but I definitely wouldn’t mind a few years in Europe as well… 😀
Good luck with the moving, and I hope Biscuit (as well as you and your things of course!!!) has a safe, calm and easy trip over to the Green Isle. 🙂

Even if they did, let Biscuit do the work “But look at meeee, I’m so cuuuuute! Purr purr.” (If that doesn’t work, she can scratch their eyes out and you can run! :D) Both will require training though. Kitty bootcamp starts now! 😉

Oh well, sheep ain’t that bad. Few years back both my wife and I had our year of the rabbit…

Anyways, congratulations for being able to move to Ireland and hopefully get a job there 🙂

Moving can be very stressful but try to take it step by step because otherwise you will be the last few weeks without furniture (been there, done that)! Besides that I don’t really have any tips for moving abroad except that you should steer clear of Germany as my mil will come in three months…

I hope when you moved, you will find time to go on a long vacation and do an epic Europe drive. Instead of 3 hours flight, drive/take ferry from Ireland > England > France > Belgium > Germany > Poland. And back. That would be awesome! (For me at least)..

if you read the post you would know 😀 he comes for two weeks, then we go together, he needs to pick his clothes, drive our boxes to cargo and sell the car 🙂
I wish to go for a trip like that but I doubt Sing will get so much time off work

Happy for you and Sing! Taking pet to EU is a pain in the ass now so be sure to check if there’s “approved route” and “approved mode of transport – manifested cargo” (I know UK has approved route) and that you better fly with Biscuit either same day or same flight otherwise if Biscuit will be seen as commercial shipment and trust me you don’t want to use commercial form.

now I know those things, but few days ago we still thought she can just hop with us on UA, but the airline didn’t inform me to Ireland pets can be only brought in cargo and by only few approved airlines. Now I try to get in touch with Pet Express who takes car of animals for Aer Lingus, hopefully everything will be good. but thank you so much! I’m sure that could save some people’s lives!

I’m so happy for you! The only advice I can offer moving countries again (I’m on my 3rd!) is just go with the flow. But you know that all ready! I hope you’re both happier in Ireland. Plus you get to explore more of Europe 🙂 I hope you and Biscuit have a safe flight when it’s moving day! xo

SIng is already traveling in his mind, he’s like ‘go with Ryanair this and there’ – sadly in America everything is sooooo far, but in Europe in 2-3h we can be in France, Poland, whatever 🙂 I’m super excited 🙂 thank you sooooo much!

Lucky!!!! I love Ireland. I am a sheep, too, and keep hoping something spectacular like this will happen to me this year, but it’s not likely. Come on, year of the Sheep! This is supposed to be my year, too.

How exciting! You must be really happy about the change of scenery! I hope you’ll be able to get the job, but if not, you can still go for a job hunt because you don’t have to face the same visa issues as in the US (I assume?). I’m looking forward to reading posts from your life in Europe. Good luck with all the packing, this must be very exhausting.

I will wear my red pants everyday just to keep Momzilla (bad luck :D) away 😀 she sadly cannot go into an airplane with us since Ireland is very strict with their pet law 😦 so she will take a trip in a cargo, but the company Aer Lingus is using is in business for almost 40 years so I hope it won’t be too problematic 😦

Welcome back to Europe. I’m a Hong Konger got the British EU Passport before 97, you don’t need to write EU citizen help their NON-EU spouse, because we are the same as European citizen. maybe you need to change to your blog to My British Husband🇬🇧. just joking. 😉

it would be much easier if Sing had his BNO (BON?) passport – Momzilla was too lazy to wait in a huge line to do it for him, now she regrets. at least I can tell her ‘you did something wrong, MUHAHAHA’ and thanks to her mistakes I will have few extra topics to cover in case I run out of ideas 😀

oh can I ask you something? did anyone ever look down on you because of that passport like ‘oh, you’re not REALLY British’ or something? I heard stories people tend to look down on people who hold that kind of passport. you don’t need to answer of course 🙂

I look forward to your posts on living in Europe! Especially from your husband’s perspective. I’m an Asian American living in Switzerland. I find it much better than living in the US. You should be aware that Ireland has very high income taxes. It might come as a shock after living in the US.

Congratulations!!! When we suddenly decided to move from SF to the UK in 2013, things went in a quick hurry as well. So many things to sell, so many things to arrange, but that was exciting! One month after we made the decision we were on a plane to Europe. I was glad I was able as an EU citizen it was so easy to import my Japanese hubbie to the UK. Our lives and spirits have improved sooo much since coming to Europe. No more visa restrictions! We both have full time jobs and my family is only a 1h Ryanair flight away. You’re going to love your new freedom after being so restricted in the States! Enjoy!!! Have a good move.

You’re not the only sheep. Sometimes I wished I had a cooler animal too!
I can’t wait to hear more about this new chapter opening up in your life. It sounds like it’s going to be your year. 😀 Life can be a bit static at times, but exciting times are up ahead. Happy to hear you’ll get to see your family more often now. Good luck with the move. Hope packing won’t be that much of a pain. Keep us updated. ^_^

So happy for you! I’m the year of sheep as well and I have been admiring how you already be able to deal with a family of your own (I still feel like little girl -_-) good luck with everything! And I do think it’s a huge change from US to Ireland but hope everything will be great, then you’ll find easy to adapt from Ireland to HK 😀 Good luck again x

me and Hong Kong are one so no need to adapt 😀 just joking! but I’m more used to lifestyle in Europe also my parents will be close so for now it’s the best solution, especially since Sing feels much more comfortable in Ireland than he felt in America (mostly because of the guns haha)

Best of luck on the move, Lina! If you had a tough time here in the US, I could never tell as the quality of your posts never changed^^ I hope you will be happier in Ireland and that you get to see your family a little more.

Yay! So happy to hear your news! I read it while baby was sleeping and squealed inside. I’m so thrilled for another chapter to open for you (bleh – such a cliche phrase but who cares) and how great that you might be able to work, too. Three thumbs up! And congrats too on 1/2M views! I will pat myself on the back (thump?) for my 15,000+. He he he… 😀 As for moving advice, none! You already know everything there is to know and will do awesomely possomly. Besides, the less you know, the better. Have fun packing! We are moving too this month, although only between cities. I hope Biscuit isn’t too miserable. Just tell the fuzzball that the change in climate will be good for its fur. (Can’t remember if B is a boy or a girl and too lazy to scour your posts for confirmation.)

Yayyyy!! I’m so excited for you! I know the moving process is not fun, and it is tiring doing it alone, I just did the same thing >.< But I only packed for one person, but to me it seems like you got some secret superpowers you are not telling us about, because packing up a place for 2 people + dealing with all the paper work is tiring! Anyways, so yayy! you will be much closer to your family now, and I guess there’s quite a few Polish people in Ireland, just as it was in Scotland, and besides it is Europe so I’m sure you will feel more “home” in one way 😀 only annoying thing is – I just left Europe!! >.< Oh well, one day CC, Bailey and I will come to visit you guys 😀 And i just realized Our men’s family name both start with “C” and our furbaby’s names start with “B” hehehe 😀

you’re always welcomed, I just dealt with our apartment for the past few days so we will have 2 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms and living room so there’s plenty of space 😀
and we both date Asians… ABC! Coincidence?! I THINK NOT! 😀

yay! Hopefully we will be going to Europe in the summer 😀 And we definitely want to visit the UK and we actually wanted to go to Ireland last year but we didnt have time, so we MIGHT go.. 😀 wow, in the new apartment?! we just got a super nice deal on our apartment here as well, 2 bathrooms and 3 bedrooms! I have to say I love having 2 bathrooms xD hahaha. ABC – yea maybe not a coincidence ! 😀

I guess we both got lucky with the flats 😀 I cannot wait to share pictures of the place now and when I make it cute 😀 the choice of furniture is terrible but the flat itself is nice, in new building overlooking at the river! right in the city centre 🙂

haha, i totally understand you! i remember the furniture in the first apartment CC lived in, in Scotland! haha. Just make it cute 😀 we are still waiting for our notsonice landlord to give us our dining table.. >.<

I’m also a year of the sheep/ram/goat whichever translation you use. And I’m going to Hong Kong for the first time in just over a month! Please give me some tips 🙂 What would you consider a must see? I only get five days, so I have to shorten my list.

We had few days only last time and we went to classic tourist harbour walk with star avenue, took a bus to the peak, on wednesday for 10hkd you can enter horse racing – very nice experience!, we had an afternoon tea at ritz carlton – bit pricey, almost 600HKD for two but the view is amazing, you should also see the big buddha and maybe if you have enough time take a one day trip to Macau – we came back at 2am 🙂